How was it predictable? I would like to meet the guy sitting on his couch thinking "I bet HHH chases Priceless through the backstage area while paying homage to the Shining, Benny Hill, and Tom and Jerry." I need that guy picking my lottery numbers.

Cena can't be beat because he's some unholy genetic recombinate of superstars past. I mean, you might as well call him John "Realest of the Real, Sargent Rock - Cold - A - Mania" Cena.

Originally posted by Hogan's My DadRe: the HOF, I figure at least one dead person has to go in every year. And so many to choose from! My money's on Rude.

Try five dead people this year, this being a WrestleMania in Texas: Fritz, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris Von Erich. Also Kevin Von Erich.

I can understand David, Fritz, Kerry and even Kevin. You want to really stretch it with Mike because he was Rookie of the Year in 1984, maybe. But, Chris Von Erich should not be in any way shape or form near the Hall of Fame. Being on the PWI cover when you are 12 and being part of shaving the Dynamic Duo's heads does not qualify. If you want someone named Chris, close to the Von Erich's and dead to be inducted, the Gentleman from Stratford on Avon would qualify. In addition, he trained Austin, so he would be a 2-fer.

Originally posted by kentishI just don't see Miz and Morrison making the WM25 card now.

Miz and Morrison will still be on the card. They seem to be valued commodities. They could even both end up in Money in the Bank since they do those second chance matches, but I'm guessing there's something else for them since this year could be Money in the Bank overload when you add Bourne, Kofi, and maybe even Rey Mysterio to all the suckers from last year.

Maybe Rey and a partner will work M&M since Rey has had good matches on TV with them with like a dozen ("three") different partners (Bourne, Michaels, Kofi).

how are you going to hype one of the greatest IC Wrestlemania matches of all time, and then have your IC champion not even in an IC match at the show? That's crappy booking, and it made me a little pissed.

If I was the Intercontinental champion, I'd rather be in the always important, always spectacular Money in the Bank match than a six minute title defense.

Originally posted by HMDOh, and I figure the days of IC title defenses at Mania are done, fellas. We might bemoan it, but with two world titles, whichever one doesn't close out the show pretty much takes the spot the IC title once had.

Yeah. I don't want Wrestlemania to be Vengeance: A Night of Champions.

Originally posted by HMD it's really disorienting to think your Mania Mains are matches already seen on B PPVs within the last year and a half.

Orton and HHH wrestled in June, which is not usually how they do things. Cena and Edge haven't been on PPV since Sept '06, although they've had "this doesn't count except to get a rating" matches on at least three 3-hour Raws, I think. I thought it was funny when Lawler started to bring up Edge using the Money in the Bank on Cena and then stopped talking mid-sentence, presumably when someone screamed at him to shut up because he was making Edge/Cena seem like old news.

Originally posted by shawnpatrickThey really need to hire a monster female to go against Beth Phoenix, these skinny 110 pound female opponents just don't cut it anymore.

The skinny 110 pound females have instant sympathy because they're getting bullied around and it's so sad and stuff. I have no idea what the women's match will be this year without the Playboy promotion, though. Champ vs. champ would be Beth vs. Maryse so that's not happening, Gail is apparently going to Smackdown so she wouldn't wrestle Beth, and more than one match with girls would be a waste of time. Perhaps an 8-woman Shopping in the Bag ladder match.

Originally posted by used2bcoolIf Steamboat's promo is something to go by, Intercontinental Title > NWA World Championship.

Well, of course it is. George "The Animal" Steele was in his corner, after all. The only people Steamboat had in his corner when he won the NWA Title were his Jezebel wife Bonnie and his rotten son Ricky Jr.

Originally posted by kentishI sort of hope you are right. But even if that does happen, what about the last 5-6 WrestleManias and the lack of IC matches makes you think it will happen?

Not saying it definitely will, but they have so much time until WM that they can. If they want to make WM 25 the spectacle of spectacles, defending every title would be the way to do it. The midcard is strong enough to put the belt on a number of folks and have a decent title challenger.

I admit, I thought Punk would not win the triple-threat match last night for the MITB because he's the IC champ.

Sadly, the "champions should defend" mentality is an archaic mode of thinking in the current WWE. It simply hasn't been that way for several years and it won't start now or possibly ever again.

They have three World Titles, or rather, two World Titles and an ECW Title. When designing any PPV, three of those seven or so open slots are immediately covered. Plus there are non-title oriented storyline blowoff matches.

At best, the Intercontinental, US, and Tag Team Titles are throwaway tokens for the midcard to occasionally fight over. And these are more likely than not the guys on the roster who won't be touching any of those two World Titles any time soon if ever. The days of the IC and US belts as "grooming" titles for runs with the World Titles are ended, with the occasional rare exception.

Money in the Bank is now the primary outlet for one lucky guy on the midcard to get a chance to run on top of the card and of the three guys who've done it: two of them have been Edge and the last was CM Punk, who is now in IC Title purgatory.

Sadly, the "champions should defend" mentality is an archaic mode of thinking in the current WWE. It simply hasn't been that way for several years and it won't start now or possibly ever again.

They have three World Titles, or rather, two World Titles and an ECW Title. When designing any PPV, three of those seven or so open slots are immediately covered. Plus there are non-title oriented storyline blowoff matches.

At best, the Intercontinental, US, and Tag Team Titles are throwaway tokens for the midcard to occasionally fight over. And these are more likely than not the guys on the roster who won't be touching any of those two World Titles any time soon if ever. The days of the IC and US belts as "grooming" titles for runs with the World Titles are ended, with the occasional rare exception.

Money in the Bank is now the primary outlet for one lucky guy on the midcard to get a chance to run on top of the card and of the three guys who've done it: two of them have been Edge and the last was CM Punk, who is now in IC Title purgatory.

(edited by John Orquiola on 24.2.09 1146)

Sadly, I have to agree with you. It sucks, and call me old, but I remember really looking forward to certain IC matches in the 80s and 90s, many times more than the World title matches. With guys like Savage, Perfect, Bret, and Shawn involved, they more often than not were the best match on the card.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Miz and Morrison will still be on WM. They seem to be building to a Miz/Morrison v. Colons match at WM, and I think it's going to be a title for title match, winners are tag champs of both brands. And of course, Miz/Morrison will win and be all over both shows, which is nothing but a good thing.

Miz and Morrison might have both tag titles by the end of the week. The Colons are defending against them on Smackdown and if they become double tag champs it enhances there current boasting and would probably lead to an interesting match for Mania involving tag teams.

Three oinkers wearing pants, a plate of hot air, a basket of grandma's breakfast and change a bull to a gill, got it.

Originally posted by miknightMiz and Morrison might have both tag titles by the end of the week. The Colons are defending against them on Smackdown and if they become double tag champs it enhances there current boasting and would probably lead to an interesting match for Mania involving tag teams.

Against who? Don't get me wrong, I am all for unifying the belts but there is still Little competition in the division to warrant a tag title match at WM 25. I agree with JustinShapiro that it might happen if Rey gets a partner, but I am pretty sure he will be in MITB. Otherwise, there is no other regular tag team that deserves to be in a title match with M&M. The Colons are such an afterthought to the bookers that this is not even a unification match on SD, they are just defending their belts. Only M&M can be unified champs. At least that is the way I understand it.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

How was it predictable? I would like to meet the guy sitting on his couch thinking "I bet HHH chases Priceless through the backstage area while paying homage to the Shining, Benny Hill, and Tom and Jerry." I need that guy picking my lottery numbers.

It was predictable because you could see Triple H's extra sledgehammer a mile away. You could see how Legacy was going to get away from Triple H at each turn. The mess they made was entertaining, but when you know where it's going, it's just not as much fun.